The Man Who Keeps Kashmir Moving
In the rugged terrain of the Kashmir Valley, where landslides and sudden weather changes are a constant threat, one local figure has emerged as an indispensable guide for thousands of daily travellers. Tahir Ahmad Giri, widely known as Tahir Banihali, has transformed from a construction worker into a social media phenomenon, providing real-time highway updates that many trust more than official government bulletins.
The Lifeline Highway
The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway serves as the vital economic and social artery connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India. As the only all-weather route available throughout the year, this highway carries essential supplies and sustains the region's commerce. While alternative paths like the Sinthan Road and Mughal Road exist, they remain impassable during winter months due to heavy snowfall, making the national highway the solitary corridor for transportation.
Last August demonstrated the highway's critical importance when severe flash floods forced a fifteen-day closure, bringing life and trade to a near standstill. The horticulture sector suffered particularly devastating losses, with trucks loaded with apples, pears, and other fruits stranded for days, resulting in significant financial damage to growers and traders across the valley.
From Personal Posts to Public Service
Tahir's journey began modestly while working for a construction company, frequently travelling between Banihal and Ramban – the most treacherous stretch of the highway. Witnessing firsthand the hardships faced by commuters stuck in endless traffic jams caused by landslides, shooting stones, and unpredictable weather, he recognized a crucial information gap.
He started posting simple, firsthand observations about road conditions on his personal Facebook profile. The accuracy and timeliness of these updates quickly gained attention from grateful travellers. Encouraged by the positive response, Tahir eventually established a dedicated page called "National Highway Updates," which has since grown to approximately 1.1 million Facebook followers and nearly 197,000 Instagram followers.
A Trusted Voice in Challenging Terrain
Today, Tahir's live videos and posts serve as the primary information source for passengers, truck drivers, and families planning journeys between Kashmir and Jammu. During winter months when snow and landslides frequently disrupt traffic, people routinely check his updates before finalising their travel plans.
"I receive many calls every day, and I try my best to respond to all of them," Tahir explains. "If a driver needs a Hydra or any recovery machine to pull out a stranded vehicle, I personally contact the operator and even travel with them to the exact spot."
Remarkably, Tahir operates without any specialised equipment or official resources, relying solely on his smartphone. Whenever a landslide, traffic jam, or road damage occurs, he travels to the location and broadcasts live, showing viewers the exact situation. This real-time coverage enables drivers to make informed decisions about whether to proceed or wait.
Transforming Emergency Communication
Beyond providing updates, Tahir has made an unexpected contribution to highway navigation. The mountainous terrain previously lacked clear location names, making it difficult for travellers to pinpoint spots during emergencies. To improve communication, Tahir began naming certain locations himself, such as "Chinar Point" – names that have since been adopted even by traffic police and official advisories.
For truck drivers transporting perishable goods like fruits and vegetables, Tahir's updates are particularly invaluable. Timely delivery is critical in the horticulture trade, where delays can lead to spoilage and substantial financial losses.
"Earlier, before Tahir's updates, we depended only on the official traffic plan," says Omar, a frequent truck driver on the highway. "Now we mainly follow his live videos and then decide when to load our trucks. When we are carrying fruits or vegetables, timely delivery is very important. If a landslide happens, he shows us the exact situation live. If it's major, we wait. If it's minor, we move ahead. His updates save us from huge losses."
A Community's Guardian
Mohammad Amin, a cab driver who regularly uses the highway, echoes this sentiment: "Tahir is our guide. Whenever we call him, he is available day or night, even in harsh weather. Before social media, we would get stuck without knowing what was ahead. Now, we check his updates first. He gives us confidence, and his information helps us keep our passengers safe."
In earlier times, drivers would unknowingly approach landslide areas and become stranded for hours or even days with no immediate way to assess the situation's severity. Now, Tahir's live videos provide clear visual evidence of whether a landslide is minor and likely to be cleared soon or major enough to block the road for an extended period.
"This highway is our lifeline, and if I can help someone reach safely, that is my biggest satisfaction," Tahir reflects on his unconventional but vital public service role that has made him Kashmir's most trusted highway guardian.
